cannabisnews.com: South Jersey Marijuana Farm Set for Fall Debut
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South Jersey Marijuana Farm Set for Fall Debut
Posted by CN Staff on February 09, 2012 at 12:09:07 PT
By Jan Hefler, Inquirer Staff Writer
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
New Jersey -- South Jersey's first pot farm and dispensary is expected to open in Egg Harbor Township in the fall, 21/2 years after the state legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes. None of six dispensaries authorized by the state has yet opened for business.The Atlantic County town recently issued the facility a zoning permit, a prize that proved to be elusive in a string of other South Jersey towns after residents packed local meeting halls to protest.
"I feel better than I have in about six months. . . . This has been hard. I've actually been through hell getting this done," said William J. Thomas, chief executive officer of Compassionate Care Foundation, a nonprofit that plans to dispense cannabis to about 1,000 gravely ill patients each month.Since last summer, local boards and officials in at least five other municipalities - Camden, Westampton, Maple Shade, Bellmawr, and Upper Freehold - rejected plans for marijuana operations after residents expressed fears of increased crime and "potheads" roaming their neighborhoods."People are finally realizing this is a legitimate thing," said Thomas, explaining that the state requires security measures and background checks for owners and employees, restricts the drug to patients with certain serious diseases, and allows the drug to be dispensed only after the reduction of a component that causes euphoria.New Jersey is one of 14 states - Pennsylvania is not one - that allow medicinal marijuana. Initially, Gov. Christie delayed implementation, then local opposition kept the novel businesses from getting approvals.A nonprofit company in Montclair, Essex County, was the first to obtain local permits several weeks ago and now awaits final state approvals.Egg Harbor Township Mayor James McCullough said the township zoning officer issued a permit two weeks ago to developer Leo B. Schoffer when he asked to lease his warehouse to a marijuana dispensary. The 85,000-square-foot warehouse is in an industrial park off Delilah Drive between Atlantic City International Airport and the city's landfill.The dispensary meets the requirements for the "general commercial" zone. It will be in a remote area with only a few scattered houses nearby, McCullough said. "It's not something that we can deny," he said. "The medical profession of the U.S. and New Jersey recognizes marijuana is a treatment for many ailments and relieves the suffering of people with terminal illness. . . . There's a medical need, and I think it will go forward and be a successful thing."Unlike mayors in other communities who had to wrestle with the issue, McCullough said that he had not received calls from emotional residents. Instead, he has gotten calls from "people who said, 'Thank goodness we'll be able to apply for and purchase the medical prescription that we need.' . . . These people are desperate."In Westampton, Burlington County, Mayor Sidney Camp and other officials last year told Compassionate Care that it could open a dispensary in a former lighting factory without special approvals. But when residents in a senior citizen complex down the road raised objections, Camp changed his mind and said the nonprofit would have to go before the zoning board.Last month, the board rejected the proposal, saying the zoning ordinance did not say a marijuana dispensary could open in that section of the town, though it permitted commercial and manufacturing uses. Thomas filed a lawsuit, calling the decision capricious. A hearing was scheduled for next month.On Wednesday, Thomas said his company would drop the lawsuit. It has signed a contract with Schoffer, a philanthropist who told Thomas he embraced the idea of opening a dispensary and helping sick people.McCullough said the dispensary would be an asset to Egg Harbor."I don't have any concern for what anyone else says. . . . There will be naysayers out there, but I haven't heard any, and anyone of intelligence knows it will bring relief to people who are suffering," he said.Thomas said the state Department of Health and Senior Services approved the location for a dispensary and soon would begin conducting background checks of owners and the 50 employees the company plans to hire. After he obtains a license to operate and completes a $500,000 renovation of the warehouse, he expects to begin growing pot in May.The harvest should be ready for sale in October, he said.Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)Author: Jan Hefler, Inquirer Staff WriterPublished: February 8, 2012Copyright: 2012 Philadelphia Newspapers Inc.URL: http://drugsense.org/url/Q3MN3LEqContact: Inquirer.Letters phillynews.comWebsite: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #5 posted by ekim on February 10, 2012 at 11:18:57 PT
thanks AB for info on the Silver Tour
was great to see for myself.Will have to read more on the juicing of the leaves.
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Comment #4 posted by afterburner on February 10, 2012 at 09:14:14 PT
Preaching Medical Marijuana to Seniors
See for yourself:Preaching Medical Marijuana to Seniors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28NPGFu3J80&context=C3c866bcADOEgsToPDskIe7a-C8bZRRR92NnK5pYdK
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Comment #3 posted by afterburner on February 10, 2012 at 09:00:25 PT
Seniors Are Getting Informed by The Silver Tour
{ "In Westampton, Burlington County, Mayor Sidney Camp and other officials last year told Compassionate Care that it could open a dispensary in a former lighting factory without special approvals. But when residents in a senior citizen complex down the road raised objections, Camp changed his mind and said the nonprofit would have to go before the zoning board."Last month, the board rejected the proposal, saying the zoning ordinance did not say a marijuana dispensary could open in that section of the town, though it permitted commercial and manufacturing uses. Thomas filed a lawsuit, calling the decision capricious. A hearing was scheduled for next month." }Those seniors objecting to the N.J. dispensary need to attend The Silver Tour.Here's a link to a recent presentation in Florida:The Silver Tour | Teaching Seniors the Benefits of Medical Marijuana.
Sponsored by - National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) & High Times Magazine
http://www.thesilvertour.org/
{Summary The Silver Tour - Live Stream - Sunday, Jan. 29, 1:30 pm ESTLive Stream: Sunday, Jan. 29, 1:30 pm EST from Temple Shaarei Shalom, Boynton Beach Fl.SpeakersRobert Platshorn, the author of Black Tuna Diaries and director of NORML of Floridathe author of Black Tuna Diaries and director of NORML of FloridaPatients Out Of Time: Mary Lynn Mathre & Al ByrneIrvine Rosenfeld: “My Medicine”Michael Minardi, J.D., safe legal access to medical marijuanaState Representative Jeff Clemens}
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Comment #2 posted by Paul Pot on February 09, 2012 at 21:10:42 PT:
nothing wrong with euphoria for the dying
"to be dispensed only after the reduction of a component that causes euphoria".Are you kidding? Are these people really so cruel they could deny a little euphoria to someone who is dying? They're dying? What did nature-god make these plants for? It is the euphoric nature of them that is the healing part. It is the euphoria that lifts the soul above the misery of chronic pain so the body has a chance to heal or gets people through till they find peace in death.Cannabis promotes the pain relieving properties of opium. They are meant to go together, especially for people dying from cancer and there are a lot of people out there in excruciating pain and 150 countries don't have access to medical opiates and almost no-one can get medical cannabis. Cannabius and opium should be growing everywhere cheaply and freely available to anyone who needs them. But instead many thousands of people around the world are living in agony and dying prematurely, that's mass torture and murder as a result of widespread persecution and that's a 'crime against humanity'. And it's all because we are controlled by outrageously stupid and self righteous people who think they can cover up their incompetence and cruelty with brute force forever.Thank goodness for good old American democracy and the state ballot initiatives.And it's actually 16 medical marijuana states plus D.C. and more states this year.2012 will be the defining year for drug law reform.
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Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on February 09, 2012 at 16:03:22 PT
MarijuanaFarm.com
Lots of information on this site as to why we are in this situation?
Marijuana Farm!
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